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Welcome to the ninth month or the thirty-sixth week of carrying your little treasure. Your baby is just about ready to meet you for the first time. In about four weeks, you will see your baby face-to-face.
While everyone knows that it takes nine months to be pregnant, doctors record pregnancies in weeks. You now have four weeks remaining to complete your journey, and the exact due date is a secret that your baby does not feel like telling you yet. Meanwhile, the baby is about to complete its development.
Your baby may move lower into your pelvis this week if this is your first birth. This is known as “dropping” or “lightening.”
This week, your baby looks more like an infant, with chubby little legs and pink colored skin.
During these last few weeks, your baby’s ears are extra sensitive. According to research, he may even recognize your voice after birth.
Your baby may move lower into your pelvis this week if this is your first pregnancy. This is known as “dropping” or “lightening.”
This week, your baby looks more like an infant, with chubby little legs and pink coloured skin.
During these last few weeks, your baby’s ears are extra sensitive. According to research, he may even recognize your voice after birth.
By week 36, the baby has virtually completed fetal development and will continue to mature after delivery due to exposure to microorganisms and germs. At this point, any immature organ or system will develop after birth.
The respiratory system is finally ready to take in the air. The lungs have developed fully and ready to take their first breath after birth. However, they stay deflated in the womb as long as the baby is still receiving oxygen through the placenta. Should delivery occur at this stage, the baby would be considered moderately mature.
The digestive system is still immature, as food has not entered the stomach yet. It would become fully matured when the baby is 1 to 2 years old. But even then, the system is fully developed and ready to digest breast milk. Meanwhile, baby’s skull is still soft and flexible.Â
Delivery requires that the head be soft and malleable to prevent the baby from being stuck in the birth canal. It is not unusual for the baby to have a contorted head upon delivery. It would eventually revert to normal. The bones harden during infanthood.
Your baby is 18.66 inches long by the thirty-sixth week, and they weigh 2622 grams. They are as big as a romaine lettuce. Your baby’s head is more in proportion to its body.
At this time you are heavily pregnant and may begin to do the penguin-waddle movement. You have to experience this because the due date is nearing. Your tummy continue to grow outward hence shifting your centre of gravity and making it more difficult to balance on the soft and loosened connective tissues in the pelvic area, this happens especially while walking. Also your spine and pelvis also start to curve to give support to your growing stomach making you to walk like a penguin.Â
At 36 weeks pregnant, you have 4 more weeks to complete your pregnancy journey.
This is the final month of your pregnancy and it’s a good thing your little one is almost done baking because your body may be feeling equally done by now.
By the end of the week, you’re doing the penguin waddle that many third-trimester moms take on. You do not wish to take on that style of walking; it’s in your connective tissue, in which the hormones are softening and loosening. This is especially important now that your due date is approaching. Your baby, who has grown quite big by this point, must pass through your pelvic bones, so it’s a good thing they’re more pliable at this stage. It’s your body’s way of preparing to squeeze a big baby through a small space.
This week, your body may also start experiencing signs of labor as your baby is now fully matured and ready to meet you.
A common occurrence at this stage is pelvic pain. Pelvic pain comes because the baby has shifted position and dropped into the pelvis. This puts pressure on the pelvic area and affects the functions of the organs in that region. This is why frequent urination becomes normal.Â
Even though the pain is associated with aches and heaviness, the good thing is that your breathing becomes easier as your baby is now head-down, putting all the pressure below. Mothers who have experienced pelvic pain have compared it to having a bowling ball between their legs.Â
Even though the baby has dropped into the pelvic cavity this week, it may not mean it is time to enter into labour. Also keep in mind that not all babies drop before labour starts. First-time mothers can experience lightening two to four weeks before childbirth. Also keep in mind that not all babies drop before labour starts.Â
To alleviate lightening discomfort, try wearing a pregnancy pelvic support belt. You can also review the signs of labour. It will make you tell the difference between pelvic pressure and labour pain.
Another symptom you should expect this week is vaginal discharge. As your body prepares for birth, the fluid discharge becomes more frequent. The mucus plug could likely drop this week. It is due to a sensitive cervix opening wider and is a sign labour is near. It may increase and get thinner. It’s good to be aware that the mucus may be pinkish, red, or brownish after having sex.Â
The belly might become very itchy due to the stretching. Try soothing the abdomen with creams containing cocoa butter or vitamin E.
This week, you may also experience frequent urination, greasy/oily skin, insomnia, sensitive skin, dizziness, edema(swelling in feet and ankles) and nesting.
A common occurrence at this stage is pelvic pain. Pelvic pain comes because the baby has shifted position and dropped into the pelvis. This puts pressure on the pelvic area and affects the functions of the organs in that region. This is why frequent urination becomes normal.Â
Even though the pain is associated with aches and heaviness, the good thing is that your breathing becomes easier as your baby is now head-down, putting all the pressure below. Mothers who have experienced pelvic pain have compared it to having a bowling ball between their legs.Â
Even though the baby has dropped into the pelvic cavity this week, it may not mean it is time to enter into labour. Also keep in mind that not all babies drop before labour starts. First-time mothers can experience lightening two to four weeks before childbirth. Also keep in mind that not all babies drop before labour starts.Â
To alleviate lightening discomfort, try wearing a pregnancy pelvic support belt. You can also review the signs of labour. It will make you tell the difference between pelvic pressure and labour pain.
Another symptom you should expect this week is vaginal discharge. As your body prepares for birth, the fluid discharge becomes more frequent. The mucus plug could likely drop this week. It is due to a sensitive cervix opening wider and is a sign labour is near. It may increase and get thinner. It’s good to be aware that the mucus may be pinkish, red, or brownish after having sex.Â
The belly might become very itchy due to the stretching. Try soothing the abdomen with creams containing cocoa butter or vitamin E.
This week, you may also experience frequent urination, greasy/oily skin, insomnia, sensitive skin, dizziness, edema(swelling in feet and ankles) and nesting.
As usual, pay attention to your diet. But spend the week focusing on your vitamin C intake. Try to get at least 85 milligrams of vitamin C daily. It would help strengthen your muscles, bones, and immune system. It would also prevent the gums from bleeding.
Another nutrient of consideration this week is pyridoxine, also known as vitamin B6. The function of the vitamin is to help your body and baby use proteins to do their job which is the building of cells. Pyridoxine also improves the development of baby’s brain and nervous system. So, how intelligent your baby may be could come from that prenatal vitamins. Foods containing vitamin B6 includes: spinach, egg, banana, milk, meat, soybeans, oatmeal, broccoli, chicken breast, green peas, tomatoes, potatoes, avocado and lots more.
Moderate exercise at this stage could help ease labour and child delivery. It also helps improve your mood when you’re down.
Another thing you should consider doing this week is getting your birth pack ready. This is the bag that contains all your essential needs and also for the baby for the first few days before taking your baby home.
 Stillbirth: On getting to the third trimester, the suggestion is to sleep on your left side. Experts claim that sleeping on the back and right-side is linked to an increased risk of stillbirth. Sleeping on your left side also applies to daytime napping.
Episiotomy: Massaging the perineum in the weeks leading up to delivery can reduce the chances of having an episiotomy (cutting the perineum) during delivery. You can massage it by putting one or two fingers into the vagina and pressing downwards.
Baby in breech position: Your healthcare provider should be able to tell on your appointment this month if your baby is in a breech position. If the feet are down instead of the head, they will know whether turning them is best. Such a position is considered dangerous for birth. A nonsurgical method can restore the baby to the birth position.
© Mindsmaking 2024
